Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Renae Lucas-Hall is an Australian born British novelist and writer. After graduating from university with a degree in Japanese language and culture, she lived in Tokyo for two years and taught English. Over the past twenty years, Renae has continued to visit Japan many times for work or as a tourist. Renae loves to read and write anything and everything about Japanese fiction and non-fiction. She lives in Gloucestershire in the UK with her husband. Find out more about Renae and her writing atwww.renaelucashall.com.

Both the writer and the reader are able to escape to an imaginary world where anything is possible.

What’s one thing that readers would be surprised to find out about you?

I have two passports: Australian & British

Beyond your own work (of course), what is your all-time favorite book and why? And what is your favorite book outside of your genre?

My all-time favorite book at the moment is obviously my novel Tokyo Hearts: A Japanese Love Story because the whole process of writing the book and showing it to others has opened up a whole new world to me. I have many favorite books inside and outside of my genre. Some of these are Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell, 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, One Day by David Nicholls and The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory.

What was the greatest thing you learned at school?

Languages

What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?

Don’t expect anyone else to love your book as much as you do

What are some of the common challenges that new and experienced authors face and what advice do you have for over-coming them?

There is so much editing involved on top of the writing and it needs to be embraced and enjoyed as much as the writing process. Another challenge is to find inspiration for your writing and I believe that this can be achieved by developing a true interest in your chosen subject.

Can you tell us when you started Tokyo Hearts, how that came about?

A few years ago, I decided that I was going to write my first book so I returned to Japan for three weeks to do the research for this. Back in the UK, I started the process and I haven’t looked back since then.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating Takashi?

That it is difficult to write from a man’s point of view and to see life through the eyes of a man.

If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?

It would be very interesting to introduce Takashi from Tokyo Hearts to Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby. I think that they could learn a lot from each other

For those who are unfamiliar with Haruka, how would you introduce her?

As a sweet and kind character who is also very naïve.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your readers. What would it be?

Spend a lot less time on the internet and a lot more time reading.

When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?

What makes you laugh?

Where is the best place in the world you’ve been?

The places I haven’t visited yet

What's the most memorable summer job you've ever had?

Retail

When was the last time you told someone you loved them?

Last night before I went to sleep

What would be harder for you, to tell someone you love them or that you do not love them back?

You do not love them back

When was the last time you cried?

Last Saturday, I had tears in my eyes when I read about the bushfires in Australia.

If you can go anytime in the PAST. What time are you traveling to and what are you going to do when you get there?

I feel that I am in the present in Australia, in the past in England and in the future in Japan. I try to enjoy the moment wherever I am.

What's the loveliest thing you have ever seen?

People all over the world connecting with each other in a positive way

Where can readers stalk you?

On my website, Twitter and Facebook

A fascinating exploration of life in modern-day Japan, TOKYO HEARTS is a poignant love story that will catapult you directly onto the fashionable streets of this nation’s capital and into the hearts of Takashi and Haruka. Takashi is a young and popular university student who has fallen in love with his stylish and sophisticated friend Haruka. She is sweet and kind and adores shopping for high-end Japanese and Western brands. Every week, they meet up in the heart of Tokyo, enjoying each other’s company, and for Takashi, life is perfect. But the path to true love is never easy. When Takashi discovers that Haruka is seeing her wealthy ex-boyfriend from Kyoto, his life begins to turn upside down. This coming of age story traces the lives of Takashi and Haruka and their friends as they deal with young love and the ups and downs of growing up in Tokyo – truly one of the most stylish, energetic and exhilarating cities in the world.